Students Flying the Singapore Flag High at International Competitions

Congratulations to our students for pursuing their passions and flying the Singapore flag high at the International Young Physicists’ Tournament and the International Olympiads for the Sciences, Mathematics, and Informatics held from July to August 2019 at various host cities around the world. Our students' participation in these international competitions is a joint effort between MOE and the following organisations: Singapore Mathematical Society; Singapore Institute of Biology; Institute of Physics, Singapore; DSO National Laboratories; Singapore National Institute of Chemistry; Geography Teachers’ Association of Singapore; National University of Singapore; and National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University.

32nd International Young Physicists' Tournament (IYPT)

2. Competing against 33 other countries/territories, the Singapore team emerged overall champion at this year’s IYPT held in Warsaw, Poland, from 6 to 13 July 2019.
The IYPT is organised around “physics fights”, that mimic discussions at research conferences, where participants present their research and provide constructive feedback on the work of other teams. This is the 7th consecutive year that Singapore has emerged overall champion at IYPT.

Team members

Matthew Yar Kwok Jway, Raffles Institution

Samuel Foo Enze, Raffles Institution

Max Tan Wei Han, Raffles Institution

Wen Qinghao, Raffles Institution

Tan Jun Wei, NUS High School of Mathematics and Science

Led by

Dr Koh Teck Seng, School of Physics and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University

50th International Physics Olympiad (IPhO)

3. The Singapore team won two Gold medals, two Silver medals and one Bronze medal at the IPhO in Tel Aviv, Israel, from 7 to 15 July 2019. Students explored the theoretical principles behind thermo-acoustic engines to convert heat into sound, and modelled the generation and absorption of microwaves in ovens. They also conducted experiments on the thermal and electrical properties of different metals. Singapore was placed joint 8th in a field of 78 countries/territories with 360 participants.

Gold medallists

Matthew Chia, NUS High School of Mathematics and Science

Fu Xinghong, Raffles Institution

Silver medallists

Ge Shu, Victoria Junior College

Zhang Xiaorui, NUS High School of Mathematics and Science

Bronze medallist

Sidharth Chambocheri Veetil, NUS High School of Mathematics and Science

30th International Biology Olympiad (IBO)

4. The Singapore team garnered three Gold medals and one Silver medal at the IBO held in Szeged, Hungary from 14 to 21 July 2019. The students performed a diverse range of tasks, including the dissection and examination of chicken parts, the analysis of sugars with thin-layer chromatography, and the identification of plant structures. Singapore was placed joint 4th with Chinese Taipei and Netherlands in a field of 72 countries/territories with 285 participants.

Gold medallists

Tan Zipei, Hwa Chong Institution

Cameron Goh Jinghan, Raffles Institution

Gu Jiahao, Raffles Institution

Silver medallist

Amani Pek, NUS High School of Mathematics and Science

Led by

Dr Beverly Goh, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University

Dr Chen Zhong, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University

Dr Ng Ngan Kee, Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore

51st International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO)

5. The Singapore team secured two Gold medals and two Silver medals at the IChO held in Paris, France, from 21 to 30 July 2019. Students took on a diverse range of tasks, including the chemical analysis of wine constituents using various methods such as redox titration and spectroscopy, as well as the exploration of ring motion in the design and synthesis of molecular machines. Singapore was placed 14th in a field of 80 countries/territories with 309 participants.

Gold medallists

Hu Yongao, Raffles Institution

Ng Yong Xiang, NUS High School of Mathematics and Science

Silver medallists

Aw Ke Fun, NUS High School of Mathematics and Science

Tan Yong Yi, NUS High School of Mathematics and Science

Led by

Dr Tan Wee Boon, Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore

Dr Hoang Truong Giang, Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore

60th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO)

6. The Singapore team won two Gold medals and four Silver medals at the IMO held in Bath, United Kingdom, from 11 to 22 July 2019. The six students employed advanced problem solving skills to tackle challenges in the areas of algebra, geometry, combinatorics, and number theory. Singapore was placed 8th among 112 countries/territories with 621 participants.

Gold medallists

Ng Yu Peng, Hwa Chong Institution

Lucas Boo Tse Yang, Raffles Institution

Silver medallists

Aloysius Ng Yangyi, Raffles Institution

Tan Xu Chen, Raffles Institution

Tan Wee Kean, Raffles Institution

David Toh Hui Kai, Raffles Institution

Led by

Assistant Professor Jeffrey Pang Chin How, Department of Mathematics, National University of Singapore

Mr Chen Zenghui, Hwa Chong Institution

31st International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI)

7. The Singapore team clinched 1 Gold medal, 1 Silver medal and 1 Bronze medal at the IOI held in Baku, Azerbaijan from 4 to 11 August 2019. During the competition, students faced challenging computational problems which tested their ability to design and implement efficient algorithms and data structures. Singapore was placed joint 15th in a field of 87 countries/territories with 327 participants.

Gold medallists

Leong Eu-Shaun, Raffles Institution

Silver medallists

Jeffrey Lee Chun Hean, NUS High School of Mathematics and Science

Bronze medallists

Benson Lin Zhan Li, Hwa Chong Institution

Led by

Dr Steven Halim, School of Computing, National University of Singapore